INTRODUCTORY. 33 



was capturing immense nnml)ers of the codlin moth in dishes 

 and bottles of sweetened water, in his orchard. On being 

 shown a codlin moth, natural size, he discovered his mistake, 

 and remarked that the moths which he was capturing, the body 

 of each was over an inch in length and about as thick as a 

 lead pencil. Serious consequences have happened by the 

 application of highly recommended solutions for destroying 

 scale insects, such as tree wash — a cheap production made of 

 coal oil, which proved an excellent insecticide, but unfortu- 

 nately those who recommended it did not wait to find out the 

 effect on the trees. That it contained some pernicious quali- 

 ties which destroyed the tree on which it was used was discov- 

 ered in three or four months after application. Only use well 

 known remedies if vou wish to be successful. 



CHAPTER IX. 

 Alkaline Washes as Insecticides and Fertilizers. 



Since the passage of the laws in March, 1881, for the pro- 

 tection of the horticultural industries of this State, a large 

 amount of money has been expended in purchasing solutions, 

 and the necessary labor of applying the same for the purpose 

 of exterminating insect pests. In many cases the result of 

 the work did not meet the expectation of the fruit grower, and 

 in consequence of being disappointed a premature verdict was 

 given against the utility of the solution recommended. The 

 question never occurred : " Did I get the best material, or was 

 the proper apiilication made?" The object of this chapter is 

 to explain how such failures have occurred. 



No. 1. A proposes to wash his orchard trees with concen-- 

 trated lye so that it will destroy insect pests, and at the same 

 time invigorate his trees. He calls on a wholesale merchant 

 (who knows nothing of the material required) and states what 

 he wishes to purchase. A potash is offered at a very low price, 

 but warranted equal to any in the markeit, if bought in quan- 

 tities of a ton, more or less. An order is given, and the so- 

 called potash delivered at five and a quarter cents per pound, 



